Two-wheeled vehicle



(No Model.) V

H. G. M. HOWARD.

TWO WHBBLBD VEHICLE. No. 351,833. Patented Ndv. 2, 1886.

IEILLUIIFI IIIIIIIII Minesses.

UNIT D STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY e. M. HOWARD, on KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

TWO-WHEELED llEHlCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 351,833, dated November 2, 1886. Application filed August 26, 1886. Serial No. 211,911. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. M. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kala Inazoo, county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Two- Wheeled Vehicle, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention has for its object certain improvements in two-wheeled vehicles which have seat-bars or bodies suspended from the thills over the axle.

The leading feature of novelty is the spiral spring and its peculiar relation with the seatbars and thills, as compared with prior spiral springs in this class of vehicles.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation, one wheel being removed and the thill broken away. Fig. 2 is aplan of one half of the ve hicle; Fig. 3, an enlarged View in section on line 1 1 in Fig. 1,,lookingfrom a point at the left; Fig. 4, an enlarged perspective of the spring, and Fig. 5 lettered details enlarged from Fig. 1. 1

Referring to the letters of reference marked on the drawings, B are the thills; D, the thill cross-bar; G, the axle; A, the wheel; a g, the seat-bars or body, and o the seat, as in vehicles of this class before constructed.

In lieu of foot-slats heretofore employed, I make thebottom Pof perforated metal or wood, like the bottom P of the seat. The bottom P, Fig. 2, conforms to the curvature of the seat-bars, Fig. 1. The forward end of each seat-bar a terminates in spiral springs c,

which springs are parallel with the cross-bar D-that is, they are horizontal and transversely to the thills. The forward free end of the spring rests on the under side of the thill or cross-bar; 'or it may otherwise engage the thill or cross-bar to prevent the spring from rolling on its support as. This bar passes longitudinally through the spring beneathjche ward under weight of the rider. By thus forming and using a spiral spring in connection with the body and thills the action of the downward swing of the body is to wind the spring closer around the support 00, thus insuring a natural spring action and obviating danger of breakage. I am enabled to fix the fulcrum of the forward end of the body farther back, thus having but little, if any, horse motion.

It is awell-known principle that the nearer to the axle the point of connection of the forward end of the body or seat-bars is with the thills the less the horse. motion on the seat. I have shown-the free end of the spring shouldered downward and laterally outward, to catch under the thill, as at S. Aloose incline block, 1, having a series of holes to receive the end S of the spring, is shown in Fig. 1. This block rests loosely on the under side of the thill. By changing the end S from one hole to another the spring is made stiffer or Weaker, as desired.

The tendency of the springs c is to throw the rear end of the body unduly upward. At e is shown an elongated loop on the back side of the body, Fig. 5, with which another loop, 6, attached to the axle is coupled in the manner of a link. Thisallows the body to play up and down, and yet limits the upward play. A strap or straps may be employed in the same relation to the body and axle to accomplish the same purpose.

The constructionon both sides of the vehicle is of course the same as the half shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus described I claim is 1. Ina two-wheeled vehicle, the spiral springs terminating the forward end of the my invention, what body, anchored to the thills, and forming the.

ing in spiral springs at the forward end, the In testimony of the foregoing I have here thills provided with supports for the springs, unto subscribed my name in presence of two 10 and means for limiting the upward swing of witnesses.

the body, substantially as set forth.

5 4. The combination of the thills, the body HENRY HOWARD- provided with the spiral springs having the \Vitnesses: free ends, and the loose adjusting-blocks 'hav- 1 JOSEPH E. KELLoGG,

ing a series of holes, substantially as set forth.

ARTHUR M. RAXSOM. 

